The most haunted holidays and spooky places to visit in the UK

From headless horsemen to frightful fiddlers, these spooky sites are guaranteed to give you the chills this Halloween

Ghoulish apparitions, blood-curdling screams and things that go bump in the night – who doesn’t like a good ghost story! The question is, are you brave enough to visit somewhere you might see or hear an actual ghost?

If you’re nodding with excitement, then we have just the thing for you. To celebrate Halloween, we’ve put together a list of the most haunted places in the UK. From castles to palaces, hotels to pubs, all of the entries on this list are reputedly stalked by figures from the after-life, making them a must for fans of the paranormal.

What’s more, in many cases, Boundless members can save money while visiting these haunted haunts – just look out for the special offers throughout the list…

Haunted places in London and the South East

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Tower of London

London

From executions to torture, the Tower of London has a bloody history dating back more than 900 years – so it’s perhaps no wonder that this famous royal residence is associated with paranormal activity. The ghosts that have allegedly been spotted here include those of Edward V and his brother Richard – the two child princes who mysteriously disappeared in 1483 after being imprisoned in the Bloody Tower – and Henry VIII’s second wife Anne Boleyn, who was beheaded on Tower Green in 1536.

Hampton Court Palace

East Molesey

Barely a week goes by without a visitor claiming to have witnessed some eerie activity within the walls of Hampton Court Palace. Not wishing to be outdone by Ms Boleyn, two of Henry VIII’s other wives, Jane Seymour and Catherine Howard, have supposedly been seen in spectral form, the former on the Silverstick Stairs, the latter in the Haunted Gallery. There have also been sightings of a ghostly cat, while unexplained CCTV footage, shot in 1999, appeared to show a ghoulish figure opening doors in Clock Court.

Kensington Palace

London

Kensington Palace was the former home of Queen Victoria – oh, and apparently some guests from the other side. The ghost of King George II – the last remaining monarch to live in Kensington Palace – has been seen repeating his final words “Why don’t they come?” while looking out of the window at the weathervane, while Queen Mary II’s spirit apparently visits the residence whenever it undergoes a renovation – presumably to give her approval.

Kew Palace

Richmond

The Great Pagoda in the grounds of Kew Palace recently underwent a major restoration to return it to its 18th-century splendour – but we fear that won’t diminish the unidentified cruel laugh that’s reportedly been heard reverberating through it. Elsewhere, a decorator at the palace once claimed to have spotted the figure of “somebody quite small dressed in a long dress who appeared to be holding a candle”. Some historians reckon this could’ve been King George III’s son, Prince Octavius, who died at the palace aged just four.

Boundless offer

Boundless Plus members get unlimited access to all Historic Royal Palaces, including all the attractions listed above, plus Hillsborough Castle and Gardens in Northern Ireland. They also get admission for an additional child, along with a 10% discount in Historic Royal Palace cafés and shops.

Haunted places in the South West and Wales

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Berry Pomeroy Castle

Totnes

No list of the most haunted places in the UK would be complete without reference to a headless horseman – and one has allegedly been seen galloping across the grounds of this Devon attraction (pictured above). It’s reckoned that the spirit in question could be that of Sir Henry Pomeroy, a 16th-century nobleman who leapt to his death while trying to evade capture for treason. Sir Henry probably isn’t the only ghost at Berry Pomeroy Castle, either – over the years, icy chills, deafening shrieks and misty apparitions have all been reported within its walls.

Nothe Fort

Weymouth

We pity the person who has to lock up the underground tunnels of this Dorset castle at night. Over 160 years old, and used to defend British shores during the First World War, Nothe Fort is widely believed to be haunted – indeed, in a 2007 poll carried out by the National Lottery, it was voted one of the “spookiest places in the UK”. People have reported seeing floating figures and being pushed by unseen forces, while an eerie whistling has been attributed to a gunner who died while serving at the fort.

St Briavels Castle

Lydney

Once a favourite hunting lodge of King John, St Briavels Castle is now a youth hostel – and regarded as one of the most haunted buildings in England. Over the years, spooky activity has been reported in almost every part of the castle, from the sound of a baby crying in the Solar Room, through people being pinned down on their bed in the Porters Lodge, to putrid smells permeating the Constables Room. Stay there if you dare!

Craig Y Nos Castle

Swansea

Such is the notoriety of this baronial-style-residence-turned-hotel – dubbed “The most haunted castle in Wales” – that it actually offers Ghost Tour Packages. During one paranormal event, a ghoulish voice was reportedly picked up by a tape recorder. Maybe it was the ghost of opera singer and former resident Adelina Patti, who’s said to haunt parts of the building, or perhaps it was a tormented soul from when Craig Y Nos Castle served as a tuberculosis hospital for children. Either way, it must’ve been pretty spooky!

Haunted places in the Midlands and the East

Blickling Hall

Norwich

Not content with haunting the Tower of London, the ghost of Anne Boleyn is also said to rock up at this Jacobean mansion in Norfolk (pictured above), where she was born. The former Queen tends to appear on or around the 19th of May, the anniversary of her 1536 execution, riding headless in a coach towards Blickling Hall before disappearing into the formal gardens. If you’re visiting, also look out for the ghost of Sir John Fastolfe, a 15th-century landowner upon whom William Shakespeare based his famous character Falstaff.

The Bull Hotel, Long Melford

Sudbury

Back in 1648, The Bull Hotel’s landlord Richard Evered was stabbed to death by a man named Roger Greene during a heated discussion about the ongoing Civil War – and Evered’s ghost is now reputed to stalk the creaky floorboards of this hostelry, and in particular Room 4. Guests who’ve stayed in the room have reported seeing an angry man in bloodstained clothes standing at the end of their bed or glaring at them from the doorway.

Warwick Castle

Warwick

One of the many things you can see and do at this sprawling fortress is The Castle Dungeon – a “hauntingly thrilling” immersive show (additional fee applies). However, you may not need to buy tickets for that to encounter something scary, seeing as Warwick Castle is reputed to be riddled with ghosts. The most famous is that of Sir Fulke Greville, an early 17th-century owner who was stabbed to death by one of his servants in the South Tower and has since been seen moaning there from time to time.

Haunted places in the North of England

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Whitby Abbey

Whitby

A source of inspiration for Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula, this imposing clifftop ruin (pictured above and at top of page) is also the subject of countless ghost stories. One tells of a 19th-century nun named Constance De Beverley who betrayed her vows by having an affair with a young knight. As a punishment, she was walled up alive within the abbey’s walls, and her screams can sometimes be heard today, echoing in the wind. Then there’s the ghost of 7th-century saint Abbess Hilda, which has been spotted looking out of the highest window at the north side of Whitby Abbey, before vanishing into the darkness.

Pendle Hill

Nelson

This Lancashire site was the setting for the Pendle Witch Trials of 1612, when 12 people were accused of practising black magic. It’s said that as one of the accused, Alice Nutter, was sent to the gallows, she vowed to haunt her captors – and the area has been troubled by paranormal activity ever since. As a result, there are regular ghost tours of Pendle Hill and its surroundings – some of which include a visit to Nutter’s statue, erected in the nearby town of Roughlee.

Haunted places in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Craigievar Castle

Alford

Located in Aberdeenshire and home to the Forbes family for 350 years, Craigievar Castle (pictured above) attracts visitors all year round – not all of them alive. Tourists have reported having their clothes tugged in the fifth-floor Blue Room, from which a member of the rival Gordon clan once fell to his death. And Craigievar is also said to be haunted by a fiddler, who plunged to his death here after falling into a well. Listen carefully and you might hear his tear-jerking tunes – though it’s claimed he only plays to people by the name of Forbes.

Boundless offer

Boundless Plus members get unlimited free access to all National Trust for Scotland  places – including Craigievar Castle. They also get admission for an additional adult and up to six children, along with free parking.

Ballygally Castle Hotel

Larne

Mediums who’ve visited this Country Antrim castle – now a hotel – claim that there are more ghosts than guests staying there. Overlooking the Irish sea, the 17th-century building is riddled with spirits. One is believed to be Lady Isabella Shaw, who fell to her death from her top-floor bedroom after being barricaded in by her angry husband, and now spends the night banging on doors. In another incident, the hotel manager set up a function room ready for a party, before locking the door. Upon his return, the room was in total disarray, with the napkins unfolded and the wine glasses apparently used.

^{This article was accurate at the time of publication. Please note information and offers shown may change over time.}